Christian Graces – Love

1. Read: 2 Peter 1:5-9

2. About the Text:

1) The last in the list of Christian Graces is love.

2) This is agape love.

3) Why does it occur last in Peter’s list?

4) To have the kind of love that is being discussed here requires these other elements.

5) To love in this way we must have faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness.

6) Agape love is the highest form of love in the Bible.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. This is where the Christian Graces of faith, virtue, and knowledge come into play.

2. Jesus is the object of our faith.

1) John 8:24 – “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

2) Acts 10:43 – “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

3. Virtue is what Jesus exemplified in his perfect life.

1) Hebrews 4:15 – “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

2) 1 Peter 2:22 – “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.”

4. Knowledge of Jesus life is what we need to live like Him.

1) John 8:31-32 – “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”

2) Philippians 3:8 – “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

5. Believing in and knowing Jesus enables us to know what true love is.

1) “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

2) Ephesians 3:19 – “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

1. This is where the Christian Graces of temperance and patience come into play.

2. Temperance is self-control.

1) It is one of the fruit of the spirit – Galatians 5:23.

2) Romans 8:13 – “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

3. Patience is endurance under difficulties.

1) James 5:10-11 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

2) Hebrews 6:12 – “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

4. We need both self-control and patience to love as Christ loved us.

1) 2 Timothy 1:7 – “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

2) 2 Thess.3:5 – “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”

1. This is where the Christian virtues of godliness and brotherly kindness come into play.

2. Godliness is an obedient love and respect for God.

1) Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”

2) Matthew 22:37-40 – Love God.

3. When we love God and obey Him, we will want to see things God’s way.

1) God sees people made in His image (Genesis 1:27).

2) God sees souls in need of redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19).

3) God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim.2:4).

4. Brotherly kindness will create empathy within us to desire to forgive others.

1) Matthew 18:22 – “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

2) Luke 6:37 – “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

3) Acts 13:38 – “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins.”

5. We can truly love others when we see things from God’s perspective and forgive.

1. To add agape love to the other Christian graces we must . . .

1) Know and Believe Jesus

2) Understand the Proper Place of Self

3) See Others as God Sees Them

2. Invitation